The Ohio State University announced Friday it is vacating all 12 of its victories from the 2010 football season and placing itself on two years' probation in the wake of a scandal that cost coach Jim Tressel his job.

Tressel resigned under pressure after it was revealed he had lied to National Collegiate Athletic Association officials investigating allegations that Ohio State players had received special benefits from local businesses in Columbus, Ohio.

Several players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, allegedly swapped team and personal memorabilia and equipment for tattoos and other benefits. Tressel became aware of the transactions, which violate NCAA rules, but did not report them on a form all coaches are required to submit.

Five players were suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season.

"We are fully cooperating with the NCAA, and we look forward to working together to bring a resolution to these current matters," Athletics Director Gene Smith said in a written statement.

The self-imposed sanctions are contained in the university's formal response to the NCAA's Notice of Allegations received April 21. The NCAA could impose its own punishment, which could be more severe.

Tressel and the university also announced they had agreed to recharacterize his departure as a retirement rather than a resignation.

"I take full responsibility for my mistakes that have led to the ongoing NCAA inquiry and to scrutiny and criticism of the football program," Tressel said in the university's press release. "I am grateful for this opportunity to retire from the university that I so deeply respect and that I will continue to support."

soundoff(562 Responses)

Razor hits it on the head– investigate other sports at dOSU, split up bowl $'s among the
other BIG schools and further split up BTNetwork proceeds among the other BIG schools.
The academic support system for athletics at dOSU needs to be investigated as well- the
problems are likely a ditto to FSU's issues from 5 years ago.

I grew up in Ohio - this makes me sick. The academic rep of the BIG has been lowered.

Really, some tattoos in exchange for some memorabilia doesn't seem like a big deal at all. If athletes were given money/cars etc. for recruitment, that would be more serious (like several other univs have done). This should just be a slap on the wrist for a few players.

the head coach knowingly played with a team full of ineligible players for a whole season, and then lied about it to the NCAA, and then, when it was discovered that they were ineligible, lobbied to allow them to play even more games before they are (not) punished.

I say not because being in the NFL isn't exactly a punishment.

it isnt just a few players making a buck, it's the entire program being built on turning a blind eye to a couple players making a buck.

Rather than all the screwing around they do with this crap, set up a fund from the sport's proceeds and pay these kids a stipend for participating. I know; they're already on a scholarship – what else do they want?
You ever try to eat a scholarship? Dress yourself in clothes from a scholarship?
With the millions these programs generate for the schools, giving the kids a $100.00 per week would NOT break them. Add $5.00 to the price of each ticket and fund it from there if need be.
These kids are either in training or doing workouts 52 weeks a year.

On average there are 125 players on the team. So at $100 a week for 52 weeks is $650,000. Now that's just football. Next you will have everyone asking for the same and we both know that you can't do for one without doing for all the others.

OSU didn't go back far enough, some of the lies go back to 07, they should vacate 46 wins along with the relateded money. Going forward two years with no scholarships for football, put some teeth this.

As soon as a player makes a profit from playing football (even if it's $1) he is considered a paid professional and is no longer eligible to play college football. The rings and such were something they got as a result of playing football, and turning them into money turns them into profit. That's not too hard to grasp.

All the OSU hate is ridiculously unmerited. 5 kids traded THEIR property for tattoos- for people to be acting like this is a real life version of the flick "Blue Chips" is incredulous. "Makes me sick", "They need to be further investigated", "the most dirty school in sports"... sensationalism at it's most ridiculous.

I find it awfully strange that OSU just graduated a record number Student Athletes this past June, and have consistently carried one of the nation's highest student athlete graduation rates for nearly two decades. But hey- that's not important. Let's instead discuss how a 20 year old kid traded something that WAS HIS for a tattoo...yea, WAYYY more important than graduating kids.

These "kids" are read NCAA regulations – they are NOT allowed to do anything like that for monetary gain. Give me a break Giles. If they really wanted to sell it, wait until post graduation.

By the way your graduation rate argument is a joke. Ohio State FOOTBALL has averaged about 60-65% graduation rates over the past 10 years. Maybe their student athlete grad rates are higher, but those other athletes aren't selling gear either.

What about the other 118 teams? I find it hard to believe that OSU is the only one committing such an act. I am still in shock that Tressel was apart of this. I guess he really does take care of his players. I have been a OSU fan for quite some time now, and will continue to be. It blows that they had to vacate 2010 wins, they really are a great team, Tressel was a great coach, no matter what the haters say. I just hope OSU can learn and recover from this..

Completely agree! Everyone loves to hate Ohio State but I guarantee you, they are not the only school having this issue. OSU just got caught and punishment was severe. They will come back, stronger than ever, just may take some time.

Ohio State broke the rules and are being punished. Not just the ones who supposely did wrong but the whole team. It's like this is the first time a football team has ever done such a thing. I'm a Buckeye fan and though not proud of what's happened I still remain a loyal fan. Their record speaks for it's self, the team earned the wins that they got no one sold anything for them just hard work on their part. Always realized there were people jealous of them but never knew it went to such a extend. Hope none of your teams get caught with mud on their clets. Go BUCKS! Bye NCAA or maybe someone should check them to see if they are squeaky clean.

I have an idea, why not give an amount of money to each NCAA university so they can do as they can pay their atheletes a salary in their atheletic progam. The amount would be equal, no more or no less, to all. That way all unversities are on the same playing field. There is enough to spread around.

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